Mr Barry Jones
asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 27 August 1997:

(1) How many Comcar drivers were employed in each capital city on (a) 1 March 1996 and (b) 25 August 1997.

(2) With the increased use of private hire cars to provide transport for Members, Senators and senior officials, what steps have been, or will be, taken to ensure that drivers are able to make speedy and effective contact with their passengers at airports and other places of meeting.

(3) Will systems be instituted to ensure (a) passengers are able to recognise their drivers, including holding up notices with names on them or using colour coding and (b) drivers are able to recognise their passengers, including providing drivers with booklets containing photographs of Members of Parliament.

Mr Ruddock
—The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) I am advised of the following details:

(a) 1 March 1996

State

Full Time

Casual Drivers

ACT

41.5

76

NSW

35

13

VIC

24

18

QLD

12

6

SA

10

5

WA

10

5

TAS

2

5

Total

134.5

128

Total Drivers

262.5

(b) 25 August 1997:

State

Full Time

Casual Drivers

ACT

38

70

NSW

25

8

VIC

24

17

QLD

12

6

SA

10

4

WA

7

5

TAS

2

4

Total

118

114

Total Drivers

232

(2) and (3) I am advised that, under the COMCAR Use Agreement (Buyers Guide 20)—Hire Car (Chauffeur Driven) and Executive Taxi Services, hire car drivers are required to meet Senators and Members at the designated Comcar meeting points at all airports. To help identify and locate customers, hire car drivers can display notices with the word "COMCAR" to assist passengers. They are instructed that they are not to use the customer's name on those display boards.